Residual cardiovascular risk, use of standard care treatments, and achievement of treatment goals in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Background: Residual risk management in patients with previous cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a relevant issue. Objectives: 1) to assess the residual risk of patients with CVD using the new scores developed to predict recurrent CVD events (SMART score/SMART-REACH model); 2) to determine the use of therapies with cardiovascular benefit and the achievement of therapeutic goals in patients with very high residual risk. Methods: A multicenter, descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed. Individuals over 18 years of age with CVD were included consecutively. The 10-year risk of recurrent events was estimated using the SMART score and the SMART-REACH model. A value ≥ 30% was considered "very high risk". Results: In total, 296 patients (mean age 68.2 ± 9.4 years, 75.7% men) were included. Globally, 32.43% and 64.53% of the population was classified as very high risk by the SMART score and the SMART-REACH model, respectively. Among patients classified as very high risk by the SMART score, 45.7% and 33.3% were treated with high-intensity statins and reached the goal of LDL-C <55 mg/dL, respectively. The results were similar when evaluating very high patients according to the SMART-REACH model (high-intensity statins: 59.7%; LDL-C <55 mg/dL: 43.9%). Few very high-risk patients with diabetes were receiving glucose-lowering drugs with demonstrated cardiovascular benefit. Conclusion: In this secondary prevention population, the residual risk was considerable. Underutilization of standard care treatments and failure to achieve therapeutic goals were evident even in subjects with very high residual risk.

Validation of a Spanish version of a 360° feedback tool for residents' performance: A pilot study.

Background: The 360° feedback tool emerges as one of the most effective techniques for the assessment of humanistic qualities and communication skills of medical trainees, providing effective feedback. A valid Spanish version of this tool has not yet been published. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity, reliability and feasibility rates of the Mini-peer Assessment Tool (Mini-PAT), a 360° feedback instrument, translated into Spanish applied on a cardiology residency program. Methods: : We translated the Mini-PAT questionnaire into Spanish. The validation sample included all residents in our cardiology program (n = 19). Each resident was evaluated by 8 raters chosen by themselves, through a 4-point Likert scale. Validity was evaluated with factor analysis and reliability by analyzing internal consistency using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Feasibility was defined by a minimum of 80% of the raters responding the questionnaire. Results: The factor analysis clearly identified five item groupings, similar to the theoretical attributes predefined in the original questionnaire, providing evidence of the validity of the Spanish version. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.92, indicating high internal consistency of the items included. All the evaluators proposed completed the electronic form (152 surveys) demonstrating feasibility to implement. Discussion: This study provides evidence of reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the 360° feedback tool Mini-PAT performed in a cardiology residency program to assess global performance and humanistic qualities.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation is associated with higher scores on predictive indices.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of the CHADS VASc, POAF, and HATCH scoring systems to predict new-onset atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. METHODS: We conducted a single-center cohort study, performing a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. The study included consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery between January 2010 and December 2016. The primary outcome was the development of new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation during hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 3113 patients underwent cardiac surgery during the study period: coronary artery bypass graft surgery (45%), valve replacement (24%), combined procedure (revascularization-valve surgery) (15%), and other procedures (16%). Twenty-one percent (n = 654) presented postoperative atrial fibrillation. Median scores in patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation were significantly higher (P < .001). The CHAD2DS2-VASc score demonstrated greater discriminative ability to predict the event (C-statistic, 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75-0.79) versus the POAF score and the HATCH score (C-statistic, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.69-0.73 and C-statistic, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.67-0.72, respectively). All 3 scores presented good calibration according to the Hosmer-Lemeshow test univariate and multivariable analysis demonstrated that the 3 scores were independent predictors of postoperative atrial fibrillation: CHA2DS2-VASc score odds ratio 1.87 (95% CI, 1.64-2.13), POAF score odds ratio 1.18 (95% CI, 1.01-1.36), and HATCH score odds ratio 1.62 (95% CI, 1.37-1.92). CONCLUSIONS: The POAF, CHA2DS2-VASc, and HATCH scoring systems showed good discrimination and calibration to predict postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Among them, the CHA2DS2-Vasc score presented the best discriminative ability for postoperative atrial fibrillation and has the advantage of being easy to calculate.